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Zack Chasteen is a former pro football player and now makes his living running a plant nursery, while at the same time getting himself into hot water and adventures. He's fiercely loyal to friends and in love with his girlfriend Barbara. An old football team-mate, Monk, contacts Zack for help after there's a false bomb threat to his new employer, rich white Jamaica resort owner Darcy Whitehall. Zack, never one to turn down a friend or an adventure goes to Jamaica to help with security at the resort. When he gets to the airport Monk goes to bring the car to pick Zack up and a bomb demolishes it and other cars, killing many people. Right away Zack meets the local police and members of the US State Department. He's filled in on the reality of politics on the island. Whitehall and his resort are bones of contention to the many active political parties there. On top of that, Whitehall's son Alan, is running for office on the island, so the thought is that the bomb going off is all due to politics. But Zack isn't so sure. For the sake of his dead friend and also wanting to finish the job he started, Zack feels compelled to find out who was responsible for the bomb. With the help of Darcy Whitehall and his staff he begins to investigate. Though he's warned off it by the CIA, the DEA, the Jamaican police and the many politically obsessed people in Jamaica, no one can stop him from getting to the truth. Writer Bob Morris has created a charming character in Zack, very similar to Spenser by Robert B Parker. Zack is witty and has a good sense of humor about himself, his looks, history and brainpower, but he is quite certain of his many abilities. He has a relationship with a beautiful and accomplished woman, but they don't see the need for marriage and both trusts each other to be duly faithful in any given situation. He has an interesting close friend, a man of infinite talents and inner peace, and a magnet for women of all ages and types, who would put his life down for Zack, as Zack would do for him. Loyal, brave, strong but aware of his failings Zack is willing to do whatever it takes to get things done. He's a wonderful character, charming and charismatic and funny and I look forward to reading more of his adventures. JAMAICA ME DEAD shows knowledge of the location and the people of Jamaica. We get to see sides of the island that's not shown to the tourists and I appreciated learning about it. The skill Bob Morris has as a writer is clearly evident and the reading is smooth and enjoyable. The only criticism I have is that a few of the clues give the surprise ending away very early on. The second in this series, I recommend JAMAICA ME DEAD. It has all the earmarks of a successful and popular series. I know I'll be looking for the next installment.
Reviewed by Sharon Katz, December 2005
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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